“You and Marlowe have a lot in common,” his daughter said, almost reading his mind.
“Excuse you?” He reached over and placed a palm over her forehead. “You don’t feel sick, but obviously you’re delirious with fever.”
She giggled. “I spent some time with her today, and I saw a lot of similarities between you two.”
He sat up. “Whoa. Did I hear you right? Where did you see her?”
Roque listened as his daughter gave him a long version of events that transpired earlier that day, culminating with Marlowe helping her pick out a bra.
“Why didn’t you tell me you needed a…bra?” he asked.
“You can barely say the word, Dad. And what would you have done? Sent Brett to take care of it? I needed a woman, and there are clearly none around.”
She was right. Damn Natalyn. The woman should be here for her daughter. “You could have called your mom.”
Jade shook her head, her dark curls bouncing with the movement. “We both know that’s a joke. She’s too busy with Ebenezer.”
“C’mon, he’s not that old.”
“Yeah, that’s what Marlowe said.”
His jaw dropped. “You told her about your mother?”
“Sometimes I need someone to talk to. Marlowe is a good listener.”
Shit, Marlowe was so busy going off on him, she never had a chance to listen to anything he had to say. “So, what are you two, BFFs now?”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m just saying, she’s misunderstood—like you.”
He was tired of comparisons of him and Marlowe. The only thing they had in common was the mutual enjoyment of that kiss they’d shared. A kiss that had him thinking about her more than he should. She was already getting under his skin. He couldn’t have her hanging around his daughter, invading his personal space. He realized that must have been her car he saw on the road earlier. What if she started spending time with Jade? He didn’t trust her in his house. Worse, he didn’t trust himself around her.
Irritated, he stood. “I want you to refrain from any further contact with Ms. Jones,” he told Jade.
“Why?”
“Because I’m your father and I said so.” He ignored her pouting lips. “And how did you get her number anyway?”
“I looked it up in your contacts on your computer.”
He scowled. “I don’t mess with your computer. Don’t mess with mine. Thanks for the heads up. I’m changing my password.”
“Fine!” She narrowed her eyes.
He walked toward the door.
“Oh, Dad.” She jumped up. “You can have this back too.” She opened the top drawer of her bureau and she handed him a small square of plastic. “Your credit card,” she said simply. “Don’t worry, I didn’t charge too much. I kept it under five hundred.”
“Five hundred dollars!” he thundered. “On a bra?”
Jade didn’t flinch. “Several bras, plus underwear, socks, and pajamas. Marlowe says every young woman should have suitable undergarments she can be proud of. What you put on beneath your clothes is just as important as the clothes themselves.”
Roque pocketed his credit card and stalked from the room.
That does it. I’m going to have a talk with Ms. Jones!
###
Marlowe sat in the conference room at Three Sister’s Construction trying to focus on what the representatives from Relay for Life were saying. This was the first day she hadn’t gone directly to her mother’s house. Well, it was her house now. Every time she thought about wading through the mass of Reesa’s personal belongings, she almost had a panic attack. Within the span of a few days, this task had gone from exciting to overwhelming. She had half a mind to call Juan and his crew and have them gut the entire house. Then, she’d be done with this mess once and for all.
She hadn’t slept at all last night. She’d tossed and turned, and when slumber finally claimed her, she’d dreamed she was stranded on a desert island with Roque. When the Coast Guard rescued her, they refused to allow her to get on the ship unless she kissed Roque. She shook her head. It seemed she couldn’t escape the Coleman family, even in her dreams. This morning, Jade had texted her thanking her for helping her find a bra yesterday. Marlowe wondered how the sassy little girl was doing.
“So, you’re looking for a team of four?” Marlowe heard Toye ask the president and organizer of Relay for Life.
“Yes, that’s for the morning portion,” the petite brunette answered. “We have an eight-hour relay with teams of eight participants. You’ll walk for one hour each. We already have four. We just need four more. Relay For Life teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around a track or path at a local high school, park, or fairground.”
A pretty woman with a close-cropped Afro sat next to the brunette at the conference table. She looked at Marlowe and added, “Events are up to twenty-four hours long, and as we like to say, ‘because cancer never sleeps,’ each team is asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times. We’re really hoping to get the support of Three Sisters Construction. Your company is a symbol of female empowerment.”
Ever since Candace won the Small Business Woman of the year award, people had been coming out the woodwork to partner with Three Sisters. Marlowe was a sucker for charities. She found it hard to resist helping people.
“My sisters and I, along with my cousin, Toye, would be honored to be the remaining four,” Marlowe offered. “We could make up the morning relay team.”
“That would be great.”
“Thank you so much,” the brunette replied.
“Then it’s settled,” Marlowe said, bestowing a smile upon them. “My sisters are both on their honeymoons, but they’ll be back in a few days. I’m sure they would love nothing more than to participate in this.” She stood. “If you’ll excuse me, my morning is jam-packed. I’ve got another meeting to attend.”
At that moment, Marlowe’s Administrative Assistant, Penny, peeked her head in the conference room. Her wide brown eyes found Marlowe’s. “Sorry to interrupt,” she apologized. “Roque Coleman is here to see you.”
Marlowe’s heartbeat quickened at the mention of his name. Her eyes flew to Toye.
Toye nodded before addressing the other two women. “Ladies, follow me. I’ll show you out, and I’ll make sure you get the proper paperwork so we get the relay set up.”
Marlowe shook hands with the women, and then asked Penny to send Roque in. She stood on shaky legs waiting for him.
Why am I so nervous?
Her heartbeat was still irregular when Roque’s tall form filled the doorway. Her eyes appraised him from head to toe. He was immaculately dressed, as usual, in a pinstripe navy suit. She willed herself to be calm. “Mr. Coleman, to what do I owe this…visit? I can’t exactly call it a pleasure.”
He closed the door behind him. His crisp blue eyes bored into her. “Why are you hanging around my daughter?”
He got right down to business, didn’t he? “She called me. She needed help.”
“So, you came running at her beck and call?”
Marlowe smirked. “Well, I didn’t actually come running. Jade can be quite persuasive when she wants. But then, you should know that. You’ve been giving into her demands for years.”
“Don’t tell me how to handle my child. I know her better than you.”
“Don’t tell me you’re jealous. Are you the only one who can indulge her?”
He frowned and took two steps closer to her, making her feel like a caged animal in the small room. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be around her. Your relationship with me is business, so let’s keep it that way.”
“Is that what you call this? A relationship?” She glared at him. “You try to intimidate me and get me to give up my property? And I stubbornly refuse?”
“You’ve already made it clear you need more time.”
“You don’t seem to care about my needs—only your own.”
“I kne
w someone who was a hoarder. It destroyed her life. I’m trying to keep it from happening again.”
His nearness was playing havoc with her senses. She took a step back, attempting to put some distance between them, but succeeded only in backing herself up against a nearby wall. “Why must you base everyone’s experience on yours?” she demanded.
She watched his jaw clench. She knew she was pushing him, but she didn’t care. “I’m perfectly capable of looking out for myself, as I told you before. And maybe if your intentions were genuine, I might actually believe you. The fact is this isn’t about hoarding at all. It’s about your need to control everyone. I’ll give up that house when I’m good and ready, and you can’t stand that. For once, the great and mighty Roque Coleman is powerless.”
He ground out, “You’re all choked up over some woman you didn’t even know. Obviously, you didn’t stay connected, or you would have known your mother lived there.”
“My relationship with my mother is none of your business.”
“Why don’t you stop playing games and sign these papers? You don’t want that house. You’re just doing this to keep my attention.”
Her fingers itched to slap that smug look off his face. She raised a hand to slap him, but he held her and pinned her arm above her head,
He backed her up against the wall. His hard body pressed against hers, sending wicked sparks of excitement through her. She hated her body for betraying her, for throbbing in anticipation. “Didn’t your mama teach you violence doesn’t solve anything?” he said. “Good thing I’m an honorable man.”
“You’re not a man,” Marlowe argued. “You’re a monster!”
Before Marlowe could react, Roque dipped his head and forced her lips open with his. She resisted, keeping her lips pressed together, but he ravaged her mouth, biting her lower lip and forcing his way in. His tongue plundered the depths of her mouth, demanding her surrender. His hands came up and boldly caressed her breasts through the silk blouse she wore. She gasped with pleasure, making her mouth open wider. He took the opportunity to slide his tongue deeper inside. He growled against her mouth. Despite her attempts to rebuff him, she moaned beneath his touch. When his fingers tweaked the nipple of her breast, a volt of pleasurable pain coursed through her veins and settled into a ball of heat between her legs.
He pushed his knee between her legs, forcing her into a wider stance. He ground his hips against hers. With nowhere to go, she melted into his hard body.
She felt the rigid line of his erection against her pussy.
Damn, I want him inside me!
A sharp knock on the door made her jump.
Roque took his time pulling away, savoring her lips, and nipping the corners. A wicked spark of desire gleamed in his eyes as his gaze raked across her.
“Would a monster do that?” he asked.
He released her, and Marlowe pushed him away, straightening her blouse as she put distance between them.
“Yes!” she hissed, deeply disturbed by her body’s reaction to him.
Roque’s sarcastic smirk told her what she needed to know. He knew she wanted more.
When he opened the door, Toye stood on the other side. Her accusing glance lingered on Roque before settling on Marlowe.
“Are you okay?” she asked Marlowe. “I heard yelling.”
“I’m fine,” Marlowe assured her. But she wasn’t okay. She was shaking like a leaf. She moved to the safety of her desk and sat down. “Mr. Coleman was just leaving.”
Marlowe refused to look at Roque, but she did hear the deep timber of his voice announce, “I’ll see myself out.”
Marlowe listened to his footsteps grow faint, yet still, she waited with her eyes cast downward, seemingly preoccupied with a paperweight on her desk.
Toye cleared her throat. “That must have been some kiss.”
Marlowe’s head snapped up, and she locked eyes with Toye, who stood in front of her desk. “What? How did you…?”
“Your lipstick is smudged. And your blouse is wrinkled.”
“Oh, God.” Marlowe jumped up and rushed to the oval mirror on a nearby wall. The reflection that stared back looked like a woman who had been interrupted from the throes of passion. Glazed-over eyes. Swollen lips. Red smeared lipstick.
I’m so embarrassed!
She straightened her blouse, mustered her dignity, and then sat back down at her desk.
“Want to talk about it?” Toye probed.
“Definitely not.”
Her cousin shrugged. “If it’s any consolation, your lipstick was smeared on his lips too. I didn’t know there was something going on with you two.”
“There’s nothing going on. I can’t stand that man.”
“Uh huh.” One of Toye’s threaded eyebrows rose. “That’s not what it looked like to me.”
Marlowe glowered. “Toye, just leave it alone,” she warned.
“Okay.” Toye held her hands up in mock surrender. “I have a lunch appointment at the spa. Maybe you should come along and get a deep tissue massage. It might help you relax.”
“I’ve got a masseur who makes house calls when I need him.”
“Oh, yes. I remember. Gustavo. Maybe you should call him. Soon.”
Marlowe nodded. “Any other suggestions, cousin? If not, I’ve got a meeting to get to.”
“Not a suggestion. More of an observation.”
Right now, Marlowe wanted to tell Toye what she could do with her suggestion. The woman was working her damn nerves. “What is it?”
“I saw the passion in Roque’s eyes. I bet that man can put it down in the bedroom.”
“Well, like I said, there’s nothing between us, so I’m never going to find out.”
“Yeah, but you know you want to. That fine specimen of a man is worth getting to know better.”
Marlowe fixed her gaze on Toye, but pointed to her office door. “Out!”
Toye’s hysterical laughter pissed her off. Thankfully, she closed the door behind her, so Marlowe had a chance to sit alone and reflect on what had just happened. She’d learned quite enough already about Roque Coleman. More than she wanted to know. The most important thing she’d learned was she could never be alone with him again. The two of them were too combustible. And she didn’t trust herself to refuse his advances.
Her cell phone buzzed, giving her what she believed was a welcome distraction from her thoughts. Then, she saw the text from Roque.
‘I’ll come back later with those papers when you’re in a better mood.’
Marlowe gasped. The nerve of him! Who did he think he was storming into her personal space, tonguing her down, and then vowing to come back again? She texted her reply.
‘If you come back here, I’ll have security throw you out.’
As soon as she pressed the send button, she felt bad. She shouldn’t have let her anger get the best of her. It was childish of her to text that. How did Roque Coleman always manage to bring out the worst in her?
“Argh! That man is so exasperating,” she shouted.
Her cell phone buzzed again, and she took a deep breath, almost afraid to look. What did he want now?
She glanced at her phone and saw a text from Vic’s sister, Andrea, telling her that Jovan had broken his wrist in a football accident at school. Andrea was driving him to the emergency room. Marlowe sighed. Her poor nephew. He’d almost made it incident-free for an entire week. She grabbed her purse and rushed from the office. All thoughts of Roque Coleman were forgotten for now.
EIGHT
Roque didn’t need to look at his calendar to know it had been exactly seven days since he’d run into to Marlowe Jones at her sisters’ weddings. He felt he’d given her ample time to sort out her mother’s belongings. He understood, thanks to his daughter, what the woman was going through, but he also had a deadline. He’d just hung up with Leonidas, who’d called to inquire about the status of the project. Crowne Industries had a deadline too, and they wanted some reassurance that Roque would have
the property ready in six months as he’d promised.
He’d already taken the liberty of beginning construction on the project this morning. He was convinced Marlowe would come to her senses and sell her plot of land along with the house, which was in danger of falling in on itself.
He’d called her twice, but she hadn’t answered. He guessed she was still pissed off about the text that he sent yesterday after their lip-locking session in her office. She’d brought it on herself by calling him a monster. Oh, he could be a monster when he wanted. Marlowe had yet to see that side of him. She didn’t know the Roque Coleman who’d scratched his way to the top. All she saw was the end result. He’d only meant to shut her up, to quiet that nagging mouth of hers. But in the end, he’d been the one stunned into silence. He’d fallen under her spell, caught in giving her a punishing kiss that only served to turn him on.
He had to do something about her quick. The longer he tangled with Marlowe, the more he risked losing control. He didn’t like the way she made him feel when he was around her. He didn’t like the way his body responded to her kiss. He was the one who was supposed to be schooling her. Yet, every time he tried to teach her a lesson, she turned the tables on him. The two of them definitely had a love-hate relationship. That all ended today. He was determined to get her signature on these papers so he could move forward with his project. Right now, that was the only thing that mattered. He stood to make a shit load of money on this, and he was not letting his raging libido get in the way of him making a lot of money.
He’d already tried her office. He was met with resistance by Olivia, the same platinum blonde he’d seen at the wedding. She seemed happy to inform him that Marlowe Jones requested security to be called if he set foot on the premises again. Roque knew enough lawyers and legislators to get him out of a sticky situation, but it wasn’t worth the trouble right now. There was more than one way to skin the cat. He would wait until this evening when he knew Marlowe was at home, and go over there with the papers. He was done playing the waiting game.
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